COVID - 19 LEVEL 2 from 14th May 2020

COVID - 19 LEVEL 2 from 14th May 2020

Smart Choice Real Estate, is united against COVID-19 and will do our utmost to protect our workers, clients and customers and the wider community. We want to ensure that you are aware of all our processes to maintain safety through alert Level 2 and how we will be implementing these. Our team will have strict rules and guidelines that they must adhered to.

Our office will be open by appointment only. However, our team will still work from their own mobile offices and will answer all your Real Estate needs.

Golden rules for business at Alert Level 2

Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work — we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.

COVID-19 is still out there. Play it safe

All businesses can operate if they can do so safely. Alternative ways of working are still encouraged where possible

Our office is open by appointment only and will require the following restrictions:-

We will require our contact tracing declaration to be signed upon entering our office.

No more than 10 people, including the Agent, will be allowed to gather at any one time.

All persons must adhere to physical distancing of 2metres at all times.

We ask all persons coming into contact with our team to practise good hygiene etiquette.

Hand sanitiser and/or soap and water for hand washing will be available for use.

Contact tracing register requiring staff/ licensees to confirm that they have not been unwell, self-isolating or in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the previous 14 days before entering the office.

We will ensure processes and procedures are followed for reporting a case of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Our office is regularly cleaned with a particular focus on high touch surfaces

Our registers will be held securely for at least 2 months in case they are required by WorkSafe or the Ministry of Health.

Appraisals, listings & viewings

Licensees may visit properties to carry out appraisals and listings provided they can do so safely (e.g. physical distancing, 2 metre minimum, must be maintained at all times, sanitising on entry and exit and following all hygiene etiquette ensuring the visit is contactless).

We would like our visits to be contactless where possible.

Where the property is tenanted, the permission of tenants is required prior to visiting,

Discussions regarding the agency agreement, marketing and listing process may occur in person provided physical distancing (2 metres) is maintained at all times

Licensees should consider holding discussions about agency agreements, marketing plans, disclosures, and how the listing will progress by phone or video call, to reduce personal contact,

Licensees will have discussions with the vendor about what might need to happen during the listing if the alert level changes.

Photography/videography may occur provided physical distancing (2 metres) is maintained at all times.

Licensees must not attend a property if either they or anyone at the property, or any customers visiting the property, have been unwell with flu-like symptoms, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the previous 14 days.

Licensees must record details of visits including date and time.

Marketing can occur using standard methods. We may consider digital marketing instead of letter box drops.

Transporting customers

Licensees will require our contact tracing declaration to be signed before customers entering their vehicle.

Work vehicles will be sanitised prior to being used and will be sanitised after any transporting activity.

Where there are no concerns of COVID-19 licensees may transport one individual at a time.

The passenger must agree to sit in the back-passenger seat on the passenger side, not behind the driver to provide as much physical distance as possible.

If the passenger does not agree to the above the licensee will not be able to transport the passenger.

Open homes & private viewings

Smart Choice Real Estate will not be conducting any open homes during Level 2, and until further notice.

Private viewings will be by appointment only and may not be available for all properties. In some cases our team can provide virtual tours.

Pre-registration of all private viewings attendees including full names, address, phone numbers and declaration of status of health will be required for our contact tracing requirements.

If you become unwell or symptomatic please do not attend- call and reschedule.

No more than 10 people including the Agent inside the home at any one time.

Physical distancing of 2 meters to maintained at all times.

No private viewings at properties where a person living at property is, or has been in the 14 days prior to the viewing, unwell or self-isolating.

We may not allow access of private viewings in homes where the occupants are high risk (e.g. elderly or with pre-existing medical conditions)

COVID-19 information and hygiene notices will be displayed at the property,

Shoes to be removed prior to entry.

Private viewings are to be kept brief.

Where groups of people turn up for a private viewing the agent may ask the individual groups to wait in their vehicles until the agent gives them permission to enter the property,

All high touch areas will be disinfected before entry of properties and will be sanitised after appointments.

Hand sanitiser and gloves must be used where appropriate.

Virtual viewing may be available for interested buyers that cannot meet the health requirements, and for any property we cannot allow a private viewing to occur due to health requirements.

Sale and purchase agreements

We would like this procedure to be contactless where possible

Agreements can be negotiated and executed in person, provided it can be done so safely (e.g. physical distancing (2 metre minimum) can be maintained at all times, hygiene etiquette is adhered to, hands sanitised when entering and exiting property).

We will require our contact tracing declaration to be signed before entering our office alternately we will also require this when entering your home.

We will encourage vendors and purchasers to seek legal advice as to whether to include a clause to address how settlement will occur if the Alert Level increases to Level 4 before the settlement date,

Inspections (e.g. building inspections, valuations etc)

1.Adhere to physical distancing (2 metres)2. Do not attend property if occupants have been overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, or if they or anyone they have been in contact with have been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days,3. Limit number of persons at the property (e.g. have professionals attend separately),4. Minimise time at the property for any type of visit.5. Minimise in-person contact with vendor/s,

Licensees must assess the risk of any professional attending the site and must confirm the commitment of hygiene and safety requires with the professional prior to any site activity.

7.Sanitise hands before entering and when exiting the property

8.Adhere to physical distancing at all times (2 metre minimum between different bubbles).

9.Practise good hygiene etiquette.

10.Avoid touching surfaces where possible.

11.Record details of visit for contact tracing purposes.

Pre-settlement inspections

Pre-settlement inspections can take place. Licensees should observe the guidelines listed for private viewings above, as far as they apply.

If the property is tenanted, the tenant’s approval is required. Tenant permission cannot be unreasonably withheld, per the Residential Tenancies Act.

Adhere to physical distancing at all times (2m minimum between different bubbles)

Practise good hygiene etiquette.

Avoid touching surfaces where possible.

Record details of visit for contact tracing purposes.

Settlements & moving

Settlements and moving house can occur, including between regions.

Where possible, we will arrange for contactless delivery of sanitised keys to be provided.

The Smart Choice team appreciate your cooperation throughout the process and thank you for your observance of these procedures. Together we can work towards keeping everyone safe and healthy by maintaining high standards of hygiene and practice.

COVID - 19 LEVEL 3 from the 28th April 2020

We want to ensure that you are aware of all our processes, during alert Level 3 and how we will be implementing these. Our team will have strict rules and guidelines that they must adhered to.

Our office will remain closed for all contractors and members of the public. How ever our team will still work from their own mobile office bubbles and will answer all your Real Estate needs.

Private Viewings

We will not have any open homes in Level 3.

All viewings must be contactless.

Private viewings will be by appointment only and may not be available for all properties. In some cases our team can provide virtual tours.

Pre registration of all private viewings attendees including full names, address, phone numbers will be required for our contract tracing requirements.

If you become unwell or symptomatic please do not attend- call and reschedule.

Attendees will be required to wait in their vehicles off the property until instructed to entry by the agent.

One Smart Choice Real Estate Agent per viewing.

Our agents will not conduct more than 2 private viewings a day.

Physical distancing of 2 meters to maintained at all times.

Maximum of two people from the attendee’s ‘bubble’ to attend a private viewing

No private viewings at properties where a person living at property is, or has been in the 14 days prior to the viewing, unwell or self-isolating

No private viewings in homes where the occupants are high risk (e.g. elderly, pre-existing medical conditions)

NO children to attend private viewings

COVID-19 information and hygiene notices will be displayed at the property

Shoes to be removed prior to entry.

Private viewings are to be kept brief.

All high touch areas will be disinfected before entry of properties and will be completed after appointments.

Hand sanitiser and gloves must be used where appropriate.

Private Farm Viewings

No open homes

Private viewings will be by appointment only and may not be available for all properties. In some cases our team can provide virtual tours.

Pre-registration of all private viewing attendees including names, addresses and phone numbers, to assist with contact tracing

Attendees to be prequalified to ensure only serious buyers attend private viewingsAll attendees to be emailed COVID-19 information beforehand, including hygiene expectations.

Information to include instructions that the private viewing is ‘contactless’ and surfaces cannot be touched by attendees. The agent (wearing gloves) will open any doors/cupboards on behalf of attendees

Agent to open internal/external doors as appropriate beforehand to minimise risk of surface transmission

Property owners/occupants to leave premises during viewing, where possible

One private viewing at a time. Viewings to be spaced sufficiently apart to allow time for sanitising after each viewing, as required, and to ensure there is no contact between attendees

Maximum of two people from the attendee’s ‘bubble’ to attend a private viewing

Attendees to wait in their vehicles until agent advises they can enter, to ensure that there is no contact between attendees

Only one agent to attend a private viewing

Shoes removed prior to entry

Physical distancing of 2m to be maintained at all times

Agent to wear gloves and hand sanitiser to be available for use by all attendees entering and exiting property

Keep private viewings very brief

No private viewings at properties where a person living at property is, or has been in the 14 days prior to the viewing, unwell or self-isolating

No private viewings in homes where the occupants are high risk (e.g. elderly, pre-existing medical conditions)

COVID-19 information and hygiene notices will be displayed at the property

Those feeling unwell, have travelled overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 may not attend the viewing

High risk people should consider not attending the viewing (e.g. those over 70 or those with other existing medical conditions)

All high touch areas will be disinfected before entry of properties and will be completed after appointments.

Our agents will not conduct more than 2 private viewings a day.

NO children to attend private viewings

Display COVID-19 information and hygiene notices at property/farmNo private viewings at the property/farm where the occupants are high risk (e.g. elderly, pre-existing medical conditions)

People cannot travel inter-regionally to view properties/farms.

Vehicles to be clean and compliant with biosecurity standards; disinfectant protocols to apply

Appraisals and Listings

Our team may visit a property to conduct an appraisal but this must be done con-tactlessly. Our licensees Must

1. Adhere to physical distancing (2m)

2. Can not attend property if occupants have been overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if the licensee or anyone the licensee has been in contact with has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days3. Only one agent to attend the property4. Minimise time at property5. Minimise in person contact with vendor/s.Licensees when listing a property must:1. Adhere to physical distancing (2m)2. Not attend property if the occupants or buyer have been overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, or if they or anyone they have been in contact with have been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days3. Minimise their time at the property4. Minimise in-person contact with the vendor/s. licensees must use virtual methods to share new listings with their colleagues.Vendors may take their own videos and photographs for listing purposes.

Anti-money laundering requirements (AML)

All AML must be completed online using our real you service. Note this is an industry standard requirement and we can not provide any real estate activity work with out this being complete.

Contracts

Contracts cannot be executed in person

Contracts if required during this level must be drawn up on line and executed using online methods

Pre Settlement inspections

1. Adhere to physical distancing (2m)2. Do not attend property if occupants have been overseas recently, are self-isolating or have been incontact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, or if they or anyone they have beenin contact with have been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 14 days3. Limit number of persons at the property (e.g. have professionals attend separately)4. Minimise their time at the property5. Minimise in-person contact with vendor/sLicensees must assess the risk of any professional attending the site and must confirm the commitmentof hygiene and safety requires with the professional prior to any site activity

Settlements

Licensees should arrange for sanitised keys to be provided with no physical contact between any partiesNo Licensee can clean a property before settlement or during this process

Please note that this is a live document and will be subject to change as we move through the Levels of COVID-19 we reserve the right to make changes and amendments to any part of this document and will make all endeavours to keep our clients updated.

Should you have any COVID-19 concerns please do not hesitate to contact one of our team.